The wet weather was supposed to be on vacation, but oh, no! Mother Nature had other plans for Dallas on Sunday, June 12. Still the wine-loving Dallas Uncorked crowd wasn’t going to let a little weather dampen their annual fundraising dinner at Sevy’s. Ironically, it was benefiting The Birthday Party Project. What was the irony? It was also Dallas Uncorked’s Founder Hayley Hamilton Cogill‘s birthday. Before taking off for Walla Walls, the birthday gal filed this report:
The room was truly spectacular as Chef Sevy (aka Jim Severson) and business partner/manager Stefaan Vandemoortele rolled out the roses with two long, candlelit tables of 30 each, down the middle of the dining room at Sevy’s. They had never created a set up quite like this, but I wanted the communal, celebratory feel with everyone celebrating together for this our 12th anniversary. The wines were stunning, provided by Ram’s Gate Winery, highlighting single special vineyards throughout Sonoma, including favorite of the night, Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay and Bush Crispo Vineyard Pinot Noir.
Friends old and new joined us for the night including Byron and Linda Harris, just back from fly fishing in Santa Fe (where Linda caught a 5-lb. rainbow trout!…I think they are enjoying his retirement from WFAA;) Don Winspear with date Michael Meadows as Ellen Winspear was prepping for her day long Opera meeting and photo shoot yesterday; Frank and Karen Needham; Jennifer and Doug Houser; Shelly Slater, who left husband Clay at home to take care of the kiddos; Jack Hobbs, founder of a new podcast company, Revolver; Erin Waks without husband Larry Waks, as sadly the rain redirected his incoming NYC to DFW flight to Midland, but we still sent a steak home for him; Ram’s Gate Winery GM David Oliver and assistant winemaker Luke Stanko; Collin Chenault from The Birthday Party Project, our second time to donate the proceeds from our anniversary event to the fantastic charity; my cousin, and board member from the start, Chablis Lindquist, (yes, Chablis, my aunt loved the French region…and the wines) along with her hubby John, who had just arrived from the night from Arkansas; Randy and Michelle DeWitt, taking a break from one of their Front Burner restaurants to enjoy Sevy’s food and these incredible wines!
Gary gushed, as he so sweetly does; I was quite teary and thankful, especially in the wake of the events of the day; David and Luke celebrated their delicious wine; and Chef Jim hit it out of the park once again. I think this was the 6th or 7th event I have done with the 19-year-old restaurant in our 12 years…everyone always loves Sevy’s and they are some of the kindest, most thoughtful owners in town, generously giving back so much.
We didn’t do an auction, as the point of the night was more for celebration, instead giving everyone a ticket and drawing a prize winning number – a bottle of the Bush Crispo Pinot, a mighty fine birthday present.
* Photos provided by Dallas Uncorked